Continental Tire IMSA Reflections: Jordan Taylor

Throughout the year, Continental Tire will focus on celebrating the fans, media, drivers, and teams and their contributions to sports car racing, including a weekly trip down memory lane in Sportscar365’s Continental Tire IMSA Reflections series.

This week, Wayne Taylor Racing driver Jordan Taylor recalls the day he cut his famous mullet and reflects on his most special wins.

What do you remember about the day you had your mullet cut off?

“It was a sad day. It was a guy who won my raffle that we did for charity.

“To enter the contest, you donated money, and the winner of the raffle got to come to my race and that guy actually got to cut off my hair.

“It was surprisingly emotional. As soon as it was gone I felt like I lost my Batman cape. I felt much more vulnerable! The mullet protected me.

“I felt so much more confident with it, and as soon as it was gone I felt like a little naked child. It was sad, but I grew to be comfortable with myself again.

“Also, my neck was getting sun burn really easily after that!”

Will we ever see it come back?

“I often think it would be cool to bring it back. The only problem is it takes a long time to get to that point.

“That one took 18 months from beginning to cut off. The funny part about it is that it began at the Roar five years ago.

“Ryan Hunter-Reay was my new teammate and I told him I was thinking about growing a mullet, and he told me that everyone says that but that I’d never do it. I took that as a challenge and it started.”

Maybe you could go for a longer ‘cape’ and donate the hair after it gets to be long enough?

“My hair doesn’t grow that fast! We’d be looking at a three year project with that and I don’t know if I can invest that much time in it.”

Hair aside, what would you say is your biggest moment on track since Continental came into the series in 2010?

“I’d say there’s two. The first one would be the 2014 Rolex when we were on the podium with my dad, Ricky, and Max [Angelelli], and then obviously winning last year to finally come full circle.

“To win it with Ricky and for dad’s team, and then with Jeff Gordon too, there were so many big storylines and emotional pieces with it that that would be my moment.”

Is there anything that could top it this year?

“I don’t think so. I don’t think anything could top last year.”

What do you still feel like you need to accomplish in your career?

“I’d still like to go race in Australia in the Supercars series.

“Another cool thing I’d like to do is I’ve won Daytona, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans overall, I’ve won Le Mans in class, but I’d like to win Le Mans overall one day. That’s a goal of mine.”